Packaging device and packaging method

ABSTRACT

A packaging device ( 2 ) and a packaging method are for highly compressed bales ( 3 ) on a baling press ( 1 ). The packaging device ( 2 ) has a supply device ( 9 ) for a web-shaped packaging material ( 8 ) and a wrapping device ( 10 ) for attaching an annularly surrounding wrapping web ( 7 ) on the free side surfaces ( 32 ) of the compressed bale ( 3 ) which is held between compression rams ( 31 ). The wrapping device ( 10 ) is arranged with a transport device ( 20 ) movably relative to the compressed bale ( 3 ). The supply device ( 9 ) is arranged in a spatially and kinematically separate manner from the wrapping device ( 10 ), in particular in a stationary manner.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of InternationalApplication PCT/EP2014/056032, filed Mar. 26, 2014, and claims thebenefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application 20 2013101 316.1, filed Mar. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a packaging device for highly compressed baleson a baling press and a packaging method for packaging highly compressedbales on a baling press by means of a packaging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A packaging device for highly compressed bales on a baling press isknown from EP 0 294 820 B1. The packaging device has a supply device fora film web and a wrapping apparatus for applying a surrounding filmsleeve to the compressed bale held between press rams, said supplydevice and wrapping apparatus forming a spatial and kinematic unit andbeing arranged together on a transport means. The packaging devicetautens a film curtain and lays it laterally around the compressed baleas a belt.

EP 0 528 892 B1 shows a variant of such a packaging device having adifferent structural configuration of the supply device and the wrappingapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention to present improved packagingtechnology.

The packaging technology according to the invention, in particular thepackaging device and the packaging method, have the advantage ofenhanced efficiency and improved safety.

As a result of the spatial separation, the supply device can be arrangedat a distance from the compressed bale and from the baling press andthus outside a safety region on the baling press. This makes it possibleto change or provide a fresh supply of packaging material, in particularrolls or coils, without disrupting or shutting down the baling press forsafety reasons.

The supply device can be arranged in a stationary manner, thereby makingaccessibility, handling and changing of the packaging material, inparticular coils, easier. In this case, the storage capacity can beconsiderably increased. Sufficient space is available for replacementcoils. The diameter and the weight of the coils and replacement coilscan be much greater than in the prior art mentioned at the beginning.Furthermore, web ends can be connected much more easily and quicklyduring a coil change.

Further advantages reside in the saving of space and weight on thetransport means which now only has to transport the wrapping apparatus.This can furthermore result in improvements in the acceleration andtraveling speed of the transport means, this likewise having aperformance-enhancing effect. Furthermore, improved accommodationfacilities for one or more additional devices on the transport means,for example a strapping apparatus, are favorable.

The packaging technology according to the invention is suitable inparticular for high-performance baling presses. In this case, a balingpress can also be subdivided into a preliminary pressing and mainpressing region. The packaging technology according to the invention canfurthermore be added to for the attachment of additional packagingmeans, for example a stretch hood. In addition, it is possible to applyan upper and/or lower cover film to the compressed bale, and this cantake place during pressing.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to theattached drawings. The various features of novelty which characterizethe invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexedto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding ofthe invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained byits uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a baling press having a packaging device with asupply device and a wrapping apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feed device of a wrapping apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a wrapping apparatus with two feed devicesarranged on either side of the compressed bale in the viewing directionIII in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a feed apparatus along arrow IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section through a feed apparatus on the section line V-V inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a supply device;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the supply device in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the supply device along arrow VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section through the supply device on section line IX-IX inFIG. 8, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the packaging device in FIGS. 1 to 9and a part of the baling press.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the invention relates to a packaging device(2) and a packaging method for highly compressed bales (3) on a balingpress (1). The invention also relates to the baling press equipped witha packaging device (2).

The compressed bales (3) are produced from textile fibers, in particularnatural fibers or synthetic fibers, and subsequently packaged by way ofthe packaging device (2).

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a baling press (1) which is configured forexample as a vertical press and has a filling region and optionallypreliminary pressing region and also a final pressing or main pressingregion. It can be a carousel press, shown in FIG. 1, which has thefilling and preliminary pressing region on the left-hand side and thefinal pressing region on the right-hand side.

FIG. 10 likewise shows a broken-away illustration of the carousel press(1) with the rotary table, the lower press rams (31) and a compressedbale (3) in a perspective view as seen from the other side.

The baling press (1) has a high pressing capacity. It can be configuredfor example as in WO 2012/101250 A1 and have two parallel feed shaftsfor filling one or more press boxes (4). In the press box (4), thecompressed bale (3) can be compressed with a high pressure between upperand lower press rams (31). The baling press (1) is assigned a packagingdevice (2) by way of which the compressed bale (3) held between thepress rams (31) is packaged after the removal of the press box (4).

By way of the packaging device, the compressed bale (3) receives balepackaging (5) which covers a plurality or all of the sides of thecompressed bale (3) and which consists at least in part of a web-likepackaging material (8). The bale packaging (5) is formed at least by anannular sleeve web (7) of packaging material (8) laid around the lateralbale faces (32), said sleeve web (7) also being referred to as a belt.It wraps around and covers the lateral bale faces (32) which lie freelyand are accessible between the press rams. In addition, a cover film (6)can be applied to the top side and/or underside of the compressed bale(3).

The application of such cover films (6) can take place for example as inEP 0 528 893 B1 by the introduction of a film cut at the press ram (31)prior to the compression of the bale and by the subsequent wrapping andapplication of the cover film (6) around the lateral faces of thecompressed bale (3). Alternatively, it is possible to dispense with oneor more cover films (6).

The packaging device (2) has a supply device (9) for the web-likepackaging material (8) and a wrapping apparatus (10) for applying theannular sleeve web (7) to the compressed bale (3) held between the pressrams (31). The web-like packaging material (8) is preferably configuredas a flexurally elastic film web made of a plastics material, forexample of polyethylene or polypropylene. Alternatively, web-likepackaging materials made of other materials, for example also metalmaterials or composite materials, are possible.

The exemplary embodiments illustrated below contain and describe filmwebs and sleeve films (7). They can also be adapted in an appropriatemanner to other web-like packaging materials (8), material webs, webcurtains and sleeve webs (7).

The wrapping apparatus (10) is arranged so as to be movable relative tothe compressed bale (3) and to the stationary baling press (1) by way ofa transport means (20) indicated in FIG. 1. The supply device (9) isarranged in a manner separated spatially and kinematically from thewrapping apparatus (10). Preferably, the supply device (9) is arrangedin a stationary manner.

The supply device (9) has at least one receptacle (12) for a web supply(11) of packaging material (8). This web supply (11) is formed as a rollor coil in the exemplary embodiments shown, wherein the receptacle (12)is configured as a rotatable coil receptacle for unrolling the coil. Inthe exemplary embodiments shown, the supply device (9) has two coilreceptacles (12) for a coil (11) in an operating position and for areplacement coil (11) in a standby position. The receptacles (12) arearranged on a frame (14) on which controllable and drivable conveyingmeans (16), for example driving rollers, for taking off the coil andtransporting the packaging material (8) are also arranged. An apparatusfor joining the web ends during a coil change can also be arranged inthe region of the receptacles (12).

The receptacle(s) (12) is/are arranged at a spatial distance from thecompressed bale (3) and optionally from the baling press (1) andpreferably in a stationary manner. In order to feed the packagingmaterial (8) from the receptacle (12) to the wrapping apparatus (10), aweb guide (13) is provided. The latter bridges the distance from theheld compressed bale (3) and has a high guide arm (15), arranged abovethe held compressed bale (3) and the wrapping apparatus (10), for thepackaging material (8). Supporting and guide means (33), for examplefreely rotatable rollers, and optionally conveying means (16) can bearranged on the guide arm (15).

The web guide (13), in particular the guide arm (15), is on the one handa constituent part of the frame (14) or is arranged on the latter andhas on the other hand a connection at its front free end for fasteningto a supporting part of the baling press (1), in particular to a presscolumn (17). At the free end, deflection rollers (33) for the packagingmaterial (8) can furthermore be provided. From the stationary free end,the film web (8) is fed to an inlet (29) of the movable wrappingapparatus (10).

The coils (11) are arranged in a lying manner, in particularhorizontally, wherein the taken-off packaging material (8) also takes upa lying position on the preferably horizontally oriented guide arm (15).In this position, it is fed to the wrapping apparatus (10). The higharrangement of the guide arm (15) and of the packaging material (8) inthis region leaves lateral access to the held compressed bale (3) at thebaling press (1). This access can be used on the one hand for manualhandling or for other manual work on the compressed bale (3). On theother hand, a removal device (not illustrated) or other automaticdevices for bale handling can also be arranged here. The transport means(20) can likewise be moved from this access region into a rest positionand clear the access.

The wrapping apparatus (10) has a variable web store (23) for the fedpackaging material (8). As a result, the traveling movement of thetransport means (20) and the feed of the packaging material (8) can bematched to one another by the supply device (9), such that low-stress,safe transport of the packaging material (8) is possible. This appliesin particular when, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thedirection of travel of the transport means (20) during the applicationof the sleeve film (7) and the feed direction of the packaging material(8) are in opposite directions.

The web store (23) receives for example the film-web length that isrequired for the associated sleeve film region and is emptied during theapplication of the sleeve film (7). This takes place during the forwardmovement of the wrapping apparatus (10) and the transport means (20)thereof. During this movement, the supply device (9) can supply morepackaging material (8), which is filled back into the web store (23)during the reverse movement.

In the preferred embodiment, the web store (23) is configured as acontrollable dancer (24) having tensioning rollers (25, 26) for thepackaging material (8) that are adjustable relative to one another. FIG.5 illustrates this arrangement in section and with a viewing directionfrom above. In the dancer (24), a plurality of tensioning loops of theweb-like packaging material (8) are formed between the stationarytensioning rollers (25) and the movable tensioning rollers (26) arrangedon a controllable tensioning carriage.

On the inlet side, a web deflector (22) is connected upstream of the webstore (23), in particular the dancer (24), the film web (8) fed in alying manner being rotated through 90° into an upright position by wayof said web deflector (22), the sleeve film (7) being laid around thecompressed bale (3) in said position. The tensioning rollers (25, 26)are likewise in an upright position. The web deflection (22) can takeplace for example via an inclined and rounded guide rail illustrated inFIG. 3. Arranged above the web deflector (22) is the inlet (29) of thewrapping apparatus (10) with deflection rollers which acquire theweb-like packaging material (8) from the front end of the guide arm(15). FIGS. 1 and 4 show this arrangement.

The wrapping apparatus (10) can likewise have controllable and drivenconveying means (27) for the web-like packaging material (8). On theoutlet side of the web store (23), in particular of the dancer (24), thepackaging material (8) is guided in a loop to deflection rollers on arear-side support arm and from there back again to an outlet (30) of thewrapping apparatus (10), at which the packaging material (8) emerges inthe direction of the compressed bale (3) according to FIGS. 2 and 3. Theoutlet (10) can, according to FIG. 5, be movable transversely to thecompressed bale (3) and have a carriage with upright guide rollers, saidcarriage being extendible in a controlled manner and driven for exampleby a cylinder.

As FIG. 3 illustrates, the wrapping apparatus (10) can tauten a filmcurtain (21) which extends transversely over the held compressed bale(3) and the rear end side thereof and which is subsequently laid in aU-shaped manner around the held compressed bale (3) during a travelingmovement of the wrapping apparatus (10) and is closed to form a ring atthe other, front end. To this end, the wrapping apparatus (10) has acutting and welding apparatus (28) which is arranged at the movableoutlet (30) or in the vicinity thereof. The cutting and weldingapparatus (28) can be arranged in an advanceable manner with respect tothe compressed bale (3), wherein it is located for example on thecarriage of the outlet (30).

The cutting and welding apparatus (28) on the one hand closes the sleevefilm (7), formed by means of the film curtain (21), at the end and inthe process severs the sleeve film (7) from the fed packaging material(8). In the process, it connects, in particular welds, the ends of thesleeve film (7) together. At the same time, the free ends of the fedpackaging material (8) that were produced during the cutting operationare also connected together, wherein a closed film curtain (21) isformed again. After the compressed bale (3) provided with the sleevefilm (7) has been removed from the baling press (1), the wrappingapparatus can travel back again into a starting position shown in FIG.1.

The wrapping apparatus (10) can be structurally embodied in variousways. It can in particular be configured in an integral or multipartmanner.

In the embodiment shown, a multipart wrapping apparatus (10) has twofeed devices (18, 19), which are arranged on either side of thecompressed bale (3) and the baling press (1) and which in the case eachhave a separate transport means (20) configured for example as atrolley. The feed devices (18, 19) in this case each have theabovementioned configuration of the wrapping apparatus (10) with the webdeflector (22), the web store (23) and the conveying means (27), whereinsaid film curtain (21) is tautened between the feed devices (18, 19),which are arranged opposite one another in a mirror-inverted manner andare moved synchronously. FIG. 3 shows this arrangement. The cutting andwelding apparatus (28) can be assigned as a whole or in parts to one orboth feed devices (18, 19).

The welding apparatus (28) is configured in any desired suitable manner.It can work at a relatively high temperature with heating beams orheating wires, which are suitable for example for PE films. Fortemperature-sensitive PP films, in particular what are referred to asribbon films, the welding apparatus (28) can work with ultrasound. Thecutting and welding apparatus (28) can be structurally configured andfunction in a manner corresponding to EP 0 294 820 B1 and/or EP 0 528892 B1.

The two feed devices (18, 19) are also each connected to a separatesupply device (9) of the above-described type, such that the packagingmaterial (8) is fed on both sides of the compressed bale (3) or of thebaling press (1).

In another variant (not illustrated) of the packaging device (2), asingle and one-sided arrangement of a supply device (9) in conjunctionwith a single wrapping apparatus (10) can be provided, wherein only oneweb (8) of packaging material is fed on one bale side from thestationary supply device (9) of the wrapping apparatus (10). The lattercan be configured in a multipart manner and for example in accordancewith EP 0 528 892 B1, wherein a film feeder is arranged on one bale sideand a transversely extendible film arm is arranged on the other, theseeach being located on a transport means (20).

Modifications of the embodiments shown and described are possible invarious ways. This relates to the structural configuration andarrangement of the supply device(s) (9) and of the wrapping apparatus(10) and also of the baling press (1). In particular, the features ofthe above-described exemplary embodiments and the modifications thereofcan also be combined with and even exchanged for one another as desired.

The bale packaging (5) or the compressed bale (3) provided with a sleevefilm (7) can subsequently be supplemented by a stretch hood or someother packing means.

The baling press (1) can have some other structural configuration. Itcan be configured for example as a horizontal press and have verticallyoriented press rams. The packaging device (2) is configured and arrangedin a corresponding manner adapted thereto. In this case, the sleeve (7)is laid around horizontal and vertical free lateral faces (32) of thecompressed bale (3). Furthermore, the baling press (1) can have locallyand functionally separate preliminary and final pressing regions. It canbe configured in particular as a press facility having a plurality ofpreliminary presses and a common final press. The packaging device (2)is in this case arranged on a possibly detached final press (1). Theweb-like packaging material (8) can be stored and provided in some otherform than in rolls or coils, for example in a folded or laid manner andpackaged in cardboard boxes or the like.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

1. A packaging device for highly compressed bales on a baling press, thepackaging device comprising: a supply device for supplying a film webpackaging material; a wrapping apparatus for applying an annularsurrounding film sleeve, to free lateral faces of the compressed baleheld between press rams; a transport means for moving the wrappingapparatus; and a web guide for feeding the packaging material, wherein:the wrapping apparatus is arranged so as to be movable by way of thetransport means relative to the compressed bale; the supply device isarranged separated spatially and kinematically from the wrappingapparatus; the supply device is arranged stationarily; the supply devicecomprises a web supply receptacle for a coil web supply, and the webguide feeds the packaging material to the wrapping apparatus; and thereceptacle and the web supply are arranged at a gap distance from theheld compressed bale, wherein the web guide bridges the gap distance.2-4. (canceled)
 5. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe supply device has at least one further receptacle for a replacementcoil web supply.
 6. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe receptacle and the web guide are arranged in a lying manner.
 7. Thepackaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web guide has a highguide arm for the packaging material, said high guide arm being arrangedabove the held compressed bale.
 8. The packaging device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the web guide has a guide arm with a connection forfastening to a press column (17).
 9. The packaging device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the supply device has a controllable conveying meansfor conveying the packaging material.
 10. The packaging device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the wrapping apparatus has a variable webstore for the packaging material.
 11. The packaging device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the web store is configured as a controllable dancerhaving tensioning rollers, for the packaging material, that areadjustable relative to one another.
 12. The packaging device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the wrapping apparatus has a web deflector for thepackaging material.
 13. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the wrapping apparatus has a controllable conveying means forconveying the packaging material.
 14. The packaging device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the wrapping apparatus has a cutting and weldingapparatus for the packaging material.
 15. The packaging device asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising another supply device wherein thepackaging device (2) has two supply devices and the wrapping apparatushas two feed devices that are arranged on either side of the compressedbale on in each case one transport means and are each connected to asupply device.
 16. The packaging device as claimed in claim 15, whereinthe feed devices are provided and configured to tauten an upright webfilm curtain, between one another and to lay the latter laterally aroundthe compressed bale.
 17. The packaging device as claimed in claim 15,wherein the feed devices each have a web deflector, a web store,conveying means and a cutting and welding apparatus.
 18. A baling pressfor highly compressed bales comprising a packaging device, the packagingdevice comprising: a supply device for supplying a film web packagingmaterial; a wrapping apparatus for applying an annular surrounding filmsleeve, to free lateral faces of the compressed bale held between pressrams; a transport means for moving the wrapping apparatus; and a webguide for feeding the packaging material, wherein: the wrappingapparatus is arranged so as to be movable by way of the transport meansrelative to the compressed bale; the supply device is arranged separatedspatially and kinematically from the wrapping apparatus; the supplydevice is arranged stationarily; the supply device comprises a websupply receptacle for a coil web supply, and the web guide feeds thepackaging material to the wrapping apparatus; and the receptacle and theweb supply are arranged at a gap distance from the held compressed bale,wherein the web guide bridges the gap distance.
 19. A method forpackaging highly compressed bales on a baling press by means of apackaging device, the method comprising the steps of moving a wrappingapparatus relative to the compressed bale by way of a transport means;applying, with a wrapping apparatus, an annular sleeve, made of a filmweb packaging material, to the free lateral faces of the compressed baleheld between press rams; and feeding the web-like packaging material isfed to the wrapping apparatus from a supply device which is arranged ina manner separated spatially and kinematically from the wrappingapparatus.
 20. The packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: thesupply device is a single and one-sided arrangement cooperating with thewrapping apparatus as a single wrapping apparatus; and the film web ofpackaging material is fed on only one bale side from the stationarysupply device of the wrapping apparatus.